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I read the first 2 volumes of After School Nightmare. Can't decide if I want to get the rest of it of it or not. Definitely an interesting premise. The art's a little weird, not sure I like it. Not offensively, but the interior art is definitely not as pretty as the covers -- and the main character is downright fugly looking.

Example:



Last panel exemplifies his weird chin/neck/mouth situation. Also provides an illustration of what makes the series so good: the sheer WTFery of the dream world (cue crazy hole-face girl in in last panel)

Plot is rather compelling, and the nightmare sequences are chilling. The premise is insanely intriguing and there's a lot of mystery and suspense. Gist of it is that the main character was born intersexed and has girl parts down below, but identifies and presents himself as male. He has to attend special night class which end up being a shared dream with fellow classmates (and the afterschool nightmare of the title). In the dreamworld everyone manifests looking different -- except the main character is himself, only in a girl's school uniform.

BTW don't read the wikipedia article because there's a huge fucking spoiler in the summary. I barely averted my eyes in time.

There's a love triangle between the three leads, Mashiro (the MC), Sou (dark-haired boy) Fujita (cutie in pigtails). Fujita was raped as a child and hates men, but since Mashiro is a girl in the afterschool nightmare, Fujita trusts him and they begin to date. Sou is a notorious womanizer -- tall, dark and handsome cliche -- and somehow knows that Mashiro is a girl, and desires "her" for it. Sou may also be one of the anonymous afterschool nightmare students, and Mashiro is determined to learn his identity.

It's a series I want to read, but I'm not sure I want to own it. I might see about getting the remaining volumes through inter-library loan, or just buckle down and get them from Powell's anyway.

"John Travolta is on the loose!"

Kagami no Kuni no Harisugawa - 6 is ... still being cute. And misunderstandings. Re-reading, though, just has me going "d'awwww" to Satomi's attempts to not be sad about what she's thinking.



...but...


Kagami no Kuni no Harisugawa -7 +1get.



Kind of wish there was less obvious pages for fanservice (no, seriously). He really does draw cute gi--oh god, where am I going with this...

...anyway, not sure how love triangle here will work. I mean,

Watashi ni xx Shinasai - On one hand, tragically breakfire pace and hilariously over-the-top clueless about love protagonist. On the other, love triangle (rectangle?). Whatever, all I really know is the art is <3.



Edit: lol, mangatraders just put this one up as manga of the week. lolololol, dat timing.

Mission 16:


...

See, I joke about these things and yet this is exactly what happens. This is why we can't have nice things. Anyway, some developments actually make me change my opinion on what I was saying above >> I guess I was a bit premature in calling things out.

The World God Only Knows - 155

<3 Ayumi more and more and wattttttttttttttttt



Also started reading Cage of Eden which is like Battle Royale meets Fanservice meets Lost meets I don't remember half the names of the class because they're cannon fodder and if you kill Yuki ever I will cry.

Edit: IMMA CRY.


Anyway, caught up. Sadness. Most recent chapter is a death. Profound sadness.

Edittttt: Cage of Eden - 96

I have no idea why I thought they'd do undo death. No idea. It would have been totally illogical based off the amount of blood. He was kind of a twat but I finally remembered his name, damn it.

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai ... +

...

...

So wait, this is basically Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai except love-love route Sena instead of Yozora?

...

I'm okay with this.

Shigurui. It's pretty fucked up.

Volume 2 was more serious, exploring Morinaga's past and his thorny relationship with his family. Some sex scenes, which I mostly skipped over, because it's very bizarre to see Souichi suddenly turn uke. And the whole "no means yes" angle to their relationship, which I may have mentioned before in my initial review of volume 1. Basically Souichi is the eponymous tyrant, who is fiendishly anti-homosexual, and constantly yelling at and bullying poor Morinaga, who has been nursing an unrequited crush on his senpai for 4 years.

Now, positives: Hinako Takanaga's artwork is as good as ever. Tyrant uses her updated style, unlike Challengers (where Morinaga and Souichi first appeared), which is an older work. The change is far more noticeable with Souichi, who turns downright feminine at times, especially in the bedroom when his glasses come off and his hair goes free. Also, glasses and long hair and he sometimes smokes (which, I know, I know, is a horrible habit, but goddamn if it doesn't look sexy sometimes) -- AND he runs around in a labcoat. It's almost too much to handle. So, yes, thumbs up for the art.

And the expressions. She does amazing slapstick. I have a hard time keeping it together when I read some scenes, especially in the 3rd volume when things get especially silly.

Anyway, back to summary. Volume 2, more serious, Volume 3, ridiculously silly. Great cameos by Tomoe and Kurosawa (the main couple in Challengers. Tomoe is Souichi's little brother) and a big hooray for Isogai, Kurosawa's straight friend, making an appearance! Isogai's updated style works especially well. Volume 3 involves Isogai finding out about Morinaga and Souichi, and using that info to blackmail poor Souichi with hilarious karaoke torture.

Positives: it's nice to see "older" characters. Souichi is a university PhD candidate, and Morinaga is pursuing a master's. It's a nice change from high school romances. Morinaga has enough backstory to warrant introduction, and I'm a sucker for unrequited romances anyway. Souichi is a great tsundere-type character, too. Extremely prickly and quick to anger, but also very straightforward and honest. He definitely doesn't know or understand his own feelings, of course, so it leads to him blurting out some surprisingly tender things while still yelling viciously at Morinaga.

Again, my big complaint with Tyrant is the sex scenes. I just skip over them anyway. Entirely too much by the way. I know, it's a weird complaint, but it's totally true. Morinaga's always going for them. Anyway.

Very enjoyable series, can't wait for the next volume. Hinako Takanaga is always a delight.

DEVELOPMENT

The World God Only Knows, up to Chapter 163

STOP TORMENTING ME.

History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi, up to Chapter 450

STOP TORMENTING ME.

Kagami no Kuni no Harisugawa, up to Chapter 15

STOP TORMENTING ME.

Medkaa Box, up to Chapter 119

STOP TORMENTING ME.

I re-read Death Note. I forgot how awesome that series is... up until volume 7.

any of you guys read King of Thorn?